guest for weekenight dinner - app and dessert question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which country in Europe?
TBH, he might appreciate several beers and a pizza and wings more than anything fancy.

Doubtful. That is what going to any American chain restaurant is for.

Hard to unbuckle your belt and lay back and belch and yell at the TV as much in a restaurant though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which country in Europe?
TBH, he might appreciate several beers and a pizza and wings more than anything fancy.

Doubtful. That is what going to any American chain restaurant is for.

Hard to unbuckle your belt and lay back and belch and yell at the TV as much in a restaurant though.

What does this even mean? I think you are on the wrong forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A work colleague will be in town from Europe next week, and I’d like to have him for dinner one night (he has mentioned having me to his house the next time I’m on work assignment near him). Yes I know I am overthinking this, so please stop reading if you don’t want so much detail 😊.

It will just be my spouse, the work colleague and me, likely Tues or Wed evening. Since it is a work night, I’m thinking (hoping) this will not be a late night. So my thought is to serve a small snack like nuts with a drink when he arrives and as the dinner finishes cooking, since there won’t be a big gap in time before I serve dinner. And after dinner, I’m thinking I may just serve cheese and fruit, and not a dessert after that. Again, because it’s a work night and none of us needs to be stuffed or stay out/up too late (he’ll be at a hotel downtown, and I live in Rockville).

Does this sound okay? When I entertain, I typically serve more robust appetizers before dinner, and always a dessert after post-dinner cheese course. But that feels too much on a Tuesday night and for only 3 people. I do want my colleague to feel welcomed and that I made an effort for him, though.

I’d appreciate thoughts.

A nice bottle of American whiskey would be good, as he might have never had any. Or a craft beer.

On a note of levity, this movie scene always comes to mind when I think of entertaining and appetizers.

[Anonymous]

I would not worry about European customs. I would serve a light dessert. Fruit and some chocolates. Nothing long and complicated. Cheese seems wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not worry about European customs. I would serve a light dessert. Fruit and some chocolates. Nothing long and complicated. Cheese seems wrong.

Cheese is never wrong. Ugh!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your description of eating much less on a Tuesday evening is very New England WASP, lol. I can say that as I come from such. Just give him some triscuits and scotch. I'm only kidding...
My general hosting philosophy is better to have too much than too little. Why not just have nuts, olives, etc, your main (salad too) and a light dessert with coffee offered.

Op here. Proud former Bostonian (Brookline). Don’t worry, I won’t count the olives in the martini as the pre-dinner snack 😊.

Thanks to all for the advice. Dessert instead of cheeses it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not worry about European customs. I would serve a light dessert. Fruit and some chocolates. Nothing long and complicated. Cheese seems wrong.

I’m OP, I’m American, and always serve cheese after a nice dinner - actually, we often have a piece of cheese after regular weeknight dinners, too, but not a cheese course . Typically if I had guests on a weekend night, I’d also serve dessert. That was really my question, whether I need to add dessert on a Tuesday, and most answers have been yes, I do.

[Anonymous]

Skip the cheese.

[Anonymous]

[list]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Okay, I did not expect so many to say dessert is necessary. I was viewing the cheese course as dessert- planned to include some fruit and crackers, I could add some chocolate pieces, too. I hear you all and I’m game to add a proper dessert after, but Doesn’t a full dinner, cheeses and dessert seem a lot on a Tuesday night? (plus possibly soup/salad, as an above PP suggested) Maybe I drop the cheese course for a proper dessert?

I’m planning to roast chicken pieces, vegetables and potatoes as the main course.

You sound like an almond mom that doesn’t want to ruin her diet rather than a friend hosting a friend.

[Anonymous]

Cracking up the you think a dessert is too much but are including a cheese course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

OP LIVES IN AMERICA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

OP LIVES IN AMERICA

But their guest does not. And they wanted to do a three course meal. I know, in America reading comprehension is not well-taught. Sorry for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Okay, I did not expect so many to say dessert is necessary. I was viewing the cheese course as dessert- planned to include some fruit and crackers, I could add some chocolate pieces, too. I hear you all and I’m game to add a proper dessert after, but Doesn’t a full dinner, cheeses and dessert seem a lot on a Tuesday night? (plus possibly soup/salad, as an above PP suggested) Maybe I drop the cheese course for a proper dessert?

I’m planning to roast chicken pieces, vegetables and potatoes as the main course.

Cheese is not dessert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

OP LIVES IN AMERICA

But their guest does not. And they wanted to do a three course meal. I know, in America reading comprehension is not well-taught. Sorry for you!

So when he hosts her in Europe, he should serve an Amerian meal?? No! You go do something like this to experience the local culture. We just have a lack of it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

OP LIVES IN AMERICA

But their guest does not. And they wanted to do a three course meal. I know, in America reading comprehension is not well-taught. Sorry for you!

So when he hosts her in Europe, he should serve an Amerian meal?? No! You go do something like this to experience the local culture. We just have a lack of it here.

Exactly. No European wants to eat cheese grits and ham, or chicken tenders withe a Caesar salad on a Tuesday night. Infact, I would say even most UP families I know would not want to eat that. We sit down and eat three course meals consisting of a soup or salad, the entree with 2 vegetable sides, and a light dessert and a small cheese course.